KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo
(ILO Online) - Elois comes from a very poor family in the Eastern
part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). His peasant parents were
not able to support his education after the fourth grade.

During the war, Elois' village was invaded
by rebels who raped, pillaged and killed. 13 year-old Elois decided to
join the Mai Mai militia and was encouraged to do so by his family.